tifosi77 wrote:What do you have? I'm eyeing a 24/7 G2 in .45 ACP - seems to hit all the bases at a price point that's right. That and I can't afford a H&K USP.

Price point should only be a minor factor when buying a handgun. you really need to buy what fits you best. Go to a range that rents handguns and try glocks, Smith and Wesson M&P pistols, Springfield XD's and Ruger SR series or any other brand you want to buy.

Once you find the gun that fits you best and you are the most comfortable with then save your pennies and buy that gun. Also don't rule out used guns as well, there are LOTS of nice glock police tradeins that have rarely been fired. Believe it or not a lot of cops never shoot their guns except at their yearly qualification that is mandated. Glock just came out with a new generation of guns (Gen4) and a lot of depts are upgrading the Gen 2 and Gen 3 guns they currently have. Most of the guns I listed can be had for less than 500 bucks brand new, so they aren't that much more than the Taurus you want just based on price.

I don't disagree with you, ffemtreed, and I wouldn't be talking about getting a gun at all if I wasn't totally comfortable shooting it.

Your suggestion is exactly what I've done over the last 8 months or so. Through this shopping process I've fired probably 13 or 14 different pistols (full-size and compact, different calibers, etc) and sent several thousand rounds downrange.

I learned a few things during my search:- I hate Glocks- 9 mm makes me chuckle when I shoot them- Rental pistols are unpredictable in their performance- Pistols with single-stack magazines are too narrow for my grip and don't feel comfortable when I shoot- The standout pistols were the H&K USP and 24/7 G2; each feels as if it was made for my hand- Of the semi-auto pistols we've shot, my wife prefers the 24/7

If I don't really have a preference between the two (USP and 24/7 G2), but my wife favored one over another, I'm happy getting the one she preferred. I want her to be able to shoot it competently as well, and a huge element in shooting well and confidently is shooting comfortably. (Which I think was the point you were trying to make)

Ultimately, I think they're both pretty good pistols that will go bang when I need them to. Ideally I'd just get both and be done with it. The price point argument is sort of tangential; I don't know if I can justify spending 2x the amount for what is effectively the same comfort level when shooting. Is the USP actually a 2x better gun? Or is it just more German? Plus, opting for the less expensive pistol will allow us to also get another pistol or shotgun for the same spend as just getting a USP.

ffemtreed wrote:Price point should only be a minor factor when buying a handgun. you really need to buy what fits you best. Go to a range that rents handguns and try glocks, Smith and Wesson M&P pistols, Springfield XD's and Ruger SR series or any other brand you want to buy.

Agreed. A good gun is worth the money. I’d also take a look at the SIG P250. It’s their new pistol with a price comparable to a Glock. The “gun” is actually a modular fire-control unit that can be swapped into any of three different sizes of frames and slides. Caliber exchange kits are much cheaper than a new gun. So, for example, you can buy a mid-sized P250 in 9mm for around $500. A caliber exchange kit to change that into a compact 9mm is about $275, which is much cheaper than buying an all-new gun. In addition to changing sizes, you can also change caliber among any of .45 ACP, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, and 9mm. A video on how it works is here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW7tys25 ... re=related

A buddy of mine bought a P250 in the medium size in .45 ACP, and he brought it along when we were at the range last weekend. It’s a really nice gun. The grip is comfortable, the recoil is moderate even in .45, and the trigger is nice. It’s a long pull sort of like a revolver in double action, but the feel is lighter than any revolver and silky smooth. I found it very shootable.

tifosi77 wrote:I don't disagree with you, ffemtreed, and I wouldn't be talking about getting a gun at all if I wasn't totally comfortable shooting it.

Your suggestion is exactly what I've done over the last 8 months or so. Through this shopping process I've fired probably 13 or 14 different pistols (full-size and compact, different calibers, etc) and sent several thousand rounds downrange.

I learned a few things during my search:- I hate Glocks- 9 mm makes me chuckle when I shoot them- Rental pistols are unpredictable in their performance- Pistols with single-stack magazines are too narrow for my grip and don't feel comfortable when I shoot- The standout pistols were the H&K USP and 24/7 G2; each feels as if it was made for my hand- Of the semi-auto pistols we've shot, my wife prefers the 24/7

If I don't really have a preference between the two (USP and 24/7 G2), but my wife favored one over another, I'm happy getting the one she preferred. I want her to be able to shoot it competently as well, and a huge element in shooting well and confidently is shooting comfortably. (Which I think was the point you were trying to make)

Ultimately, I think they're both pretty good pistols that will go bang when I need them to. Ideally I'd just get both and be done with it. The price point argument is sort of tangential; I don't know if I can justify spending 2x the amount for what is effectively the same comfort level when shooting. Is the USP actually a 2x better gun? Or is it just more German? Plus, opting for the less expensive pistol will allow us to also get another pistol or shotgun for the same spend as just getting a USP.

Glad you did your homework! If the taurus is what feels best for you that should be your gun. You are correct its not worth the extra 500 or 600 for the HK (they are sweet though). On personal level I hate glocks as well, the grip angle is really weird to me in my hands when I align the sites. The single stacks are nice for conceal ability, you can always wrap some grip tape to make them thicker for you. I have a single stack that I use when clothing dictates.

Godric wrote:Do you guys have little baby sized hands? Lol. Jk glocks aren't my flavor either.... As I posted before I have a Springfield Arms XD .40 and I love it. Got it on the cheap too

You might have been joking, but you are correct, I do have smaller than average hands, nothing freakish small or abnormal, just slightly smaller than average.

My wife has the springfield XD .40s/w subcompact. Very nice gun and very accurate. The only thing I don't like about hers is that the magazine sticks when you release it. Plus one time I pinched my hand between the bottom of the magwell on the gun and the extended grip on the magazine when slamming home a mag during a tactical reload...... OUCH. I bleed everywhere.

I also personally hate the .40 round, I would take either 9mm or .45acp over it anyday. I hate the snap muzzle flip recoil that it produces, it makes getting back on target for the followup shot much more time consuming. I'll take the almost straight back punch of the .45acp or the light pop of the 9mm anyday over that harsh flip of the .40s/w

I know its rare and expensive to shoot but glock makes some nice guns that are 10mm, which is pretty much a .40s/w on steroids which is a VERY nice to shoot and almost as powerful as .45acp. If i liked glocks that would be my caliber of choice for a carry gun.

PS --- I love shooting those old WWI and WWII rifles. I have a couple mosin nagants and a jap arisaka.

Don't have small hands (I beg your pardon...), but the grip angle is just wonky on Glocks. In fact, it's my grip size that makes single-column autos a little uncomfortable for me to shoot. In order for me to lock my hand in high and tight, the pistol ends up canted inward at about a 5-degree angle from my forearm when I present. It's not much, but correcting it makes for somewhat awkward shooting. 1911s are certainly magnificent weapons, I just don't like shooting them.

I stand to inherit an M1 Garand from my father-in-law that he bought in the 50s out of surplus for something like $12........!

tifosi77 wrote:Don't have small hands (I beg your pardon...), but the grip angle is just wonky on Glocks. In fact, it's my grip size that makes single-column autos a little uncomfortable for me to shoot. In order for me to lock my hand in high and tight, the pistol ends up canted inward at about a 5-degree angle from my forearm when I present. It's not much, but correcting it makes for somewhat awkward shooting. 1911s are certainly magnificent weapons, I just don't like shooting them.

I stand to inherit an M1 Garand from my father-in-law that he bought in the 50s out of surplus for something like $12........!

M1 Garlands are freaking awesome. I was at the range and some guy had an Ak47 and a M1 Garand, We had a M4 and the K98 so we swapped for a couple sessions

I have rather short fingers too and find the grips on many double-stack handguns to be too think for me to comfortably hit the gun’s controls like the slide and magazine releases. That’s why I own a single-stack Kahr, and my prior main carry gun was a single-stack SIG P225. Small revolvers are also good for those of us with smaller hands. I have a Colt Cobra (the aluminum-frame version of the Detective Special) that fits my hands comfortably.

I’ve never been attracted to the .40 S&W. It’s a fine cartridge, but for some reason I’m just meh when it comes to it. If I were to use something other than 9mm, it would probably be the .357 SIG.